Addiction causes us to fall into a vicious cycle. Unless we can get help that addresses the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of our drug problem, we are likely to continue on the cycle and suffer tremendously as a result. Through a process of treatment and recovery, however, we can successfully break the cycle of addiction and begin to live fulfilling lives in recovery.

We reach a point in our drug and alcohol use where it become addiction. We entirely lose control over our ability to regulate or discontinue our use. Despite consequences and promises to stop drinking or using, we inevitable return to drugs and alcohol. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains, “Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol. The sensation is so elusive that, while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after a time differentiate the true from the false. To them, their alcoholic life seems the only normal one.” Our drinking and drug use begins because we enjoy the feeling of intoxication until we come to rely upon it to provide relief from our mental, spiritual, and emotional problems.

The Big Book continues, “They are restless, irritable, and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks—drinks they see others taking with impunity.” Everyone suffering from addiction has experienced seeing others drinking or using without the same devastating consequences. We feel that if we could only regulate or moderate our use as others do, we will be able to use successfully.

Our reliance on drugs and alcohol to provide ease, comfort, and relief from our problems does not allow us to assert control over our use, however, and we return to substances to again feel relief. The Big Book states, “After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. This is repeated over and over, and unless a person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery.” We use until we face consequences, we promise not to use or lose control again, and inevitably, we return. Many of us swore we would not use, and we were incredibly serious about our decision, but still, we returned to substances. Addiction is powerful, and if we are to overcome it and escape the cycle, we must seek help.

No matter how far down the scale we have gone, recovery is possible. You can make the decision to seek help today and begin building a happy, joyous, and free life in sobriety. Resilient House, located in beautiful Shreveport, Louisiana, brings together the highest quality behavioral health and addictions specialists with spiritual guides and holistic experts to help you develop all the tools necessary to achieve and maintain sobriety. For information about treatment options, please call today: (833) 242-6431